WOMEN
Women’s Football finally played in Somalia
The world Football governing body, FIFA has welcomed the move by Somalia to finally start engaging with women’s Football.
On March 8th, 2024 women’s football was finally played in the capital Mogadishu to commemorate International Women’s Day with Futsal match.
SWF women’s football team, defeated their rivals of SSC by 3-1 in the maiden women’s futsal match, which fully broke the barriers that once prevented Somali women from playing football.
Gelson Vernandes, the FIFA director for member associations Africa welcomed that Somali women are now officially playing football.
“We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the Somali Football Federation for the activities organized, particularly to mark International Women’s Day. It is admirable to see such openness and to allow women to play and enjoy this sport. This initiative demonstrates a strong desire to promote gender equality and inclusion in football,” said Vernandes.
President of the Somali Football Federation (SFF), Ali Abdi Mohamed also praised the Women’s committee in the Federation of organizing the match to ensure women’s football officially starts in Somalia.
“I am really overjoyed that my long-standing dreams have become true. The futsal match was the start of a series of activities for the girls and young women who have been well involved in training programs for the past several months. Our aim is to see Somali women being fully active in the international football calendar very soon, added the President.
Ibtisam Yassin, the SFF head of Women’s football also said they are pleased that the department was able to organize a futsal match after several months of trainings and awareness workshops for both parents and girls.
“Our efforts paid off and we will continue organizing the awareness workshops for parents and girls plus the training programs, as this strategy has yielded positive results,” she added.
The head of Communication in SFF, Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar pointed out that having women’s football start in Somalia is a real sig of removal of cultural barriers.
“In Somalia, women have never played official football due to cultural barriers, as Somali parents never allowed their daughters to play football, because Somali parents recognized women’s football “the worst shame” and crime against Somali culture and religion, but after months of awareness workshops some parents have allowed their daughters to play the game,” added Abokar.
He also made it clear that now the awareness workshops are part of the SFF strategy to develop women’s football and overcome the cultural barriers that once prevented Somali women getting the opportunity to play the game.
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualifiers
Tanzania thump Angola in FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier
Tanzania have humbled Angola 4-0 in the first leg of the second in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
The Tanzanite Queens scored in each half in the match played on Sunday at the Azam Complex in Dar es salaam.
Fresh from helping JKT Queens win the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers, Winfrida Hubert Gerald netted a first half brace, while Hasnath Ubamba also picked a brace in the second half.
“We are happy the team managed to score four goals and concede none. We now wait for the return leg,” said Tanzania’s coach Bakari Shime.
In the other matches played Kenya held hosts Ethiopia to a 1-1 draw at the Abebe Bikila Stadium.
Elizabeth Mideva gave Kenya’s Rising Starlets the lead after only a minute, while Daniel Emush leveled matters after 66 minutes.
Rwanda suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Nigeria at the Kigali Pele Stadium. Janet Seimeyeha Akekoromoaei netted the lone goal after 70 minutes.
Action continues on Tuesday when South Sudan host Malawi at the Juba National Stadium.
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 will take place September 5-27th in Poland.
Uganda Queen Cranes have defeated Namibia 3-0 in the first leg of the second round in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifier.
The hosts netted three second half goals to silence Namibia in a match played at the FUFA Kadiba Stadium in Kampala on Friday.
Sylvia Kabene gave Uganda Queen Cranes the lead after 47 minutes. She chested the ball well and shot at goal only for the Namibian goalkeeper to fumble with the ball.
The Namibians tried to fight back strongly, but failed to put the balls past Uganda’s goalkeeper Lillian Nakiirya.
Barbara Anono made it 2-0 for Uganda Queen Cranes, and Mary Kantono also got her name on the score sheet 10 minutes into added time.
Uganda’s head coach Sheryl Ulanda said they are happy to win the first leg with three goals before the return leg to be played on Monday in Kampala.
In Bujumbura, home side Burundi suffered a 2-1 defeat to Zambia. Chishala Mufunte opned the scoring for Zambia after 44 minutes, but Rukiya Bizimana leveled the score after 63 minutes. Ruth Muwowo restored Zambia’s lead after 88 minutes.
On Sunday Ethiopia will host Kenya, while Tanzania battle Angola, and Rwanda face Nigeria. Nest week on September 23rd South Sudan will host Malawi at the Juba National Stadium.
Polland will host the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 September 5-27th.
CAF Women Champions League CECAFA Qualifers 2025
JKT Queens win CAF Women’s Champions League Zonal qualifiers
Tanzania’s JKT Queens are the winners of the CAF Women’s Champions league CECAFA qualifiers 2025.
A Winfrida Gerald headed goal after 5 minutes was enough to win it for JKT Queens in the final played against Rayon Sports WFC on Tusday at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.
In the second half the Rwanda Women’s Champions Rayon Sports WFC tried to get back in the game, but failed to break down the JKT Queens defence.
The Tanzanians were limited to counterattacks and fast transitions, but they were defensively solid and better organized.
Azishi Kondo, JKT Queens head coach said he was confident his team would win the title. “We came here to lift the title and the mission is now accomplished. I thank the players and staff for the hard work,” added Kondo.
It was JKT Queens’ second regional title after they lifted the trophy in 2023. They are now the only team to win the regional trophy twice, while Vihiga Queens, Simba Queens and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia have lifted it once.
Elsewhere, a first-half goal from Margret Kunihira was enough to hand Kenya Police Bullets third place over Kampala Queens (Uganda).
FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup 2025
Tanzania draw Portugal, Japan in FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025
Tanzania have been placed in Group C of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025.
The draw for the inaugural edition was conducted on Monday at the BGC Arts Center in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
The competition will to be hosted in Pasig City, Metropolitan Manila in the Philippines from November 21 to December 7th. A total of 16 teams placed in four grous will tussle it out.
Tanzania who finished second at the CAF Futsal Women’s Africa Cup of Nations have been placed alongside Portugal, Japan and New Zealand.
African champions Morocco who defeated Tanzania 3-2 in the final of the CAF Futsal Women’s Africa Cup of Nations early this year are placed in Group A together with Poland, Argentina and hosts Philippines.
Groups
Group A: Philippines, Poland, Morocco, Argentina
Group B: Spain, Thailand, Colombia, Canada
Group C: Portugal, Tanzania, Japan, New Zealand
Group D: Brazil, IR Iran, Italy, Panama
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